Teen shot shot by LAPD appears to be holding gun in video

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Teen shot shot by LAPD appears to be holding gun in video

LOS ANGELES, Ca. — Surveillance video released Tuesday by the Los Angeles Police Department appears to show a man holding a gun before he was fatally shot by police officers in a Saturday afternoon killing that has prompted days of protest.

The video shows the 18-year-old Carnell Snell Jr. running to the front of a strip mall before pulling what appears to be a handgun from his waistband and then standing behind an SUV.

He quickly puts the gun back in his pants and the turns to run down a path to the side of the strip mall.

Two officers can then be seen chasing him down the same path on foot reports KTLA-TV.

“While holding the handgun in his left hand, he turned in the direction of pursuing officers, at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred,” Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said. “A total of six rounds were fired and Carnell Snell was sent to the pavement.”

Snell, who was pronounced dead at the scene, did not fire, Beck said.

Police recovered a fully loaded handgun at the scene, Beck said.

The death prompted several demonstrations, including one outside the Hancock Park home of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and another at LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.

Police initially followed Snell and another man after they spotted a light-blue Nissan Altima with paper license plates that indicated an incorrect model year and suspected the vehicle may have been stolen.

Snell and the other man eventually fled the vehicle and foot pursuit began.